And the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year is…

After years of minty greens and soft pastels, Pantone is rocketing us into the cosmos by announcing Ultra Violet as the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year.

The rich, blue-based purple is simultaneously rebellious and calming; both a signature shade for recently departed rock royals like Prince and David Bowie, and a hue deeply associated with mystics, healing and mindfulness.

Ultra Violet channels brilliant night skies, counter-culture black lights and the enigmatic edges of the color spectrum—giving us space to contemplate the unknown and point towards the future.

As Leatrice Eiseman, executive of the Pantone Color Institute explains,

“We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination that is indigenous to Ultra Violet. From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”

This year’s color is sure to offer plenty of creative fodder for artists and designers looking for a bolder palette. See how our 99designs community is working with Ultra Violet below.

What do you think of the 2018 Pantone Color of the Year?

The author

Kelsey leads 99designs' Designer Marketing team. Born and raised in a small town in Connecticut, she moved to San Francisco in 2009 with a degree in Communications from Elon University. When she’s not working with the designer community, you can find her exploring the city, taking weekend road trips, and soaking up that California sunshine.